What is Digital Storytelling

To define digital storytelling, we first need to define storytelling itself. The Oxford dictionary tells me that Storytelling is “the activity of telling or writing stories.” Upon a closer look, though, I found out that it is much more complex than that.

HEY YOU, yeah you. I read your mind. You’re wondering, ‘Who cares?’ I know, right? Well, I do, and honestly, we all should. Digital storytelling is becoming increasingly relevant in a variety of fields. Professional, academic, personal stories, and other types are secretly everywhere you look. Built into the rhetoric you were unaware of in everyday designs.

There are many key aspects that go into telling a story that an audience member might not consider. We’re going to examine and focus on how storytelling functions digitally in this blog.

I’m not an expert, though, so let’s examine some of the viewpoints of those who are. First, let’s look at a video done by Sustainability Science Education. If you’d like to watch it, I’ll link the video below, but let me explain. There are seven key elements to digital storytelling.

1. Point of view
   • The narrator in this video explains how the stories we tell reflect who we are as people. They serve as connections between the teller and the listener, and can be a tool to connect and relate to each other’s humanity. The point of view determines what you are trying to convey to the audience, why, and from what perspective.
2. Dramatic Questions
   • A dramatic question is important because it engages and hooks the audience. It draws meaning out of the series of events that are about to be conveyed. This is usually placed earlier in a story.
3. Emotional Content
   • Emotional content placed correctly in a story makes the audience remember information and care more deeply about the topics discussed. When delivered powerfully, it could make the difference between a story being boring or memorable. Emotional content also encourages empathy from the viewer, which creates a certain vulnerability that both the teller and viewer can relate to. This also releases dopamine in the brain, and events where the presence of dopamine spikes tend to be more memorable in our lives.
4. Gift of voice
   • A narrator’s voice provides a lot of insight to the story. Tone conveys so meaning! The same way you can tell when a friend is sad or happy when they pick up the phone, the narrator’s voice does the same.
5. Power of soundtrack
   • A soundtrack’s importance is similar to the gift of voice. What type of music is added behind a story also helps to convey tone and can help the viewer relate to the content.
6. Economy
   • Telling the story in the most efficient way possible, using images that connect the visual and audio, and keeping a story between 8-10 minutes is ideal for engagement.
7. Pacing
   • Having a calm, steady pace helps the audience digest the information rather than glossing over it if the speaker were to speed through the content. Correctly placed pauses will also help the listener consider what is being conveyed.

Ultimately, this video changed my understanding of digital storytelling itself and how complex it can be. The significance of digital storytelling becomes more relevant as our digital environment continually evolves. Even though I’ve used it, as a college student and a Communication and Digital Studies major, digital storytelling is included in many of my assignment descriptions that I hadn’t even noticed before.

Another thing to consider when thinking about why digital storytelling is important is to really look into the power that it holds. Emily Bailin explains this in as much depth as she can in a 17-minute-long TEDx talk. Many of her key concepts are reflected in the last video as well.

HEY WAKE UP PAY ATTENTION.

Even that basic command, placed in a surprising way, can be a good way to engage viewers. Bailin explains how storytelling can take multiple forms, and how it’s okay, and even a good idea, to push against traditional storytelling like books and movies/documentaries. The visual elements included in a story is another thing she stresses the importance of. Images, videos, and other visual connections can create a higher level of understanding between the speaker and audience. Visual and audio additions added in a digital context can alter the way a story is understood and felt. The space a story is told in can affect the way it is perceived as well. Bailin goes into depth on storytelling between teachers and students, emphasizing how engagement and vulnerability from both sides of this dynamic can make for empathetic connections. Check out her speech here:

I reviewed a third and fourth video as well while trying to better my understanding on digital storytelling, and in another TEDx talk, Jim Jorstad explains how there are stories in our everyday lives. Everyone has a story, documenting everything is important, being curious is important, and paying attention to small details is absolutely vital.

The last thing you should know when constructing a digital story is the The last thing you should know when constructing a digital story is the steps from start to finish. Here they are:

1. Idea generation: Come up with an idea and think about how you want to tell it
2. Research and planning: Gather all of the information you need to tell your story and plan how you want to present it. Creating a storyboard could be a helpful technique.
3. Production: Actually create the story, film, record audio, write it, whatever media you choose can work, but stick to your main idea. Make sure it is well-crafted and engaging for the audience.
4. Post-production: Edit and refine your media, maybe even add special effects to enhance the final product
5. Finally, publication: share your story with the world through social media or other platforms, making sure it is accessible for all to listen. This can be done in post-production as well.

Overall, I think digital storytelling is becoming a more relevant tool in almost every field. As I said before, I will be applying more thoughtful consideration as I work through my major path and grow my skills in digital storytelling, and so should you.

Thanks for reading <3